Valve with compact actuating mechanism

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a valve having a base body with a passage opening, a movable valve member for closing and opening the passage opening and an actuating mechanism for moving the valve member in order to open the passage opening. The actuating mechanism has at least two elements made from a shape memory alloy which are secured to the base body or a carrier body connected thereto, and can be alternately shortened in the event of the temperature rising above a threshold temperature and are connected to the valve member in such a way that the valve member can be moved from a position on the passage opening into a position alongside the passage opening when one element is shortened on one side and can be moved back into the position on the passage opening when the other element is shortened on one side.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/041,186 filed on Jan. 21, 2005, which is a continuation ofinternational patent application no. PCT/DE2003/002380 filed on Jul. 15,2003, which claims the benefit of German patent application no. 102 33601.6 filed on Jul. 24, 2002, both of which applications areincorporated herein and made a part hereof by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a valve, in particular a ball valve,which comprises a base body with a passage opening, a movable valvemember for closing and opening the passage opening and an actuatingmechanism, by means of which the valve member can be moved in order toopen up the passage opening, the actuating mechanism having at least twoelements in wire form made from a shape memory alloy, which are securedto the base body or a carrier body connected thereto and can beshortened in the event of the temperature rising to a temperature abovea threshold temperature.

Valves play an important role in many technical fields in order tocontrol the flow of a medium. They can also be used to meter definedvolumes and to provide or block off continuous streams of fluid.Actively switching valves are moved from the closed state into the openstate or vice versa when energy is supplied. In many applications, theactuating mechanism for opening and if appropriate closing the valvesneeds to take up as little space and energy as possible.

DE 38 35 788 A1 has disclosed a fast-switching ball valve whichcomprises a base body having a passage opening, a ball for closing andopening the passage opening and an actuating mechanism which can be usedto move the ball in order to open up the passage opening. In the closedstate of the valve, the ball is pressed onto the passage opening by theapplied pressure of the gas flow. To open up the passage opening, theactuating mechanism moves the ball away from the passage opening. Forthis purpose, an actuating element of the actuating mechanism exerts alateral impact on the ball, which is then released from the passageopening or the valve seat of the passage opening. The ball is returnedto the valve seat under the influence of the gas flow which isintroduced. In this document, a pulse-operated electromagnet is used asactuating mechanism for displacement of the ball, and after actuationthe electromagnet is returned to the starting position by a springforce. An actuating mechanism with an electromagnet of this type takesup considerable space, however, and also consumes too much energy formany applications.

W. Ehrfeld et. al. “Mikroactoren—Wirkprinzipien, Fertigungstechnologienund Applikationen” [Micro-actuators—principles of operation,manufacturing technology and applications] in Rainer Nordmann et al.(Eds.): Kolloquium Aktoren in Mechatronischen Systemen Mar. 11, 1999,pages 14-16 has described a fast-switching micro-ball valve with a ballsize of approx. 100 μm, which is actuated by a piezo-ceramic multilayeractuator. The advantage of this valve is the small overall size and thelow energy consumption for the piezo-ceramic actuator used as drivecompared to an electromagnetic drive. However, one drawback of thispiezo-ceramic actuator is that it can only generate displacements in theμm range. Consequently, this actuating mechanism is not suitable foractuating the ball of a larger ball valve.

In this configuration too, the ball is only knocked off the valve seatfor a short time and in pulsed fashion before then returning to itsoriginal position as a result of the flow of liquid. If the open valvestate is to be maintained for a longer period of time, in both theabove-mentioned valves a rapid succession of repeated actuations of theactuator is required. This constantly consumes energy for as long as thevalve is to remain open.

Documents DE 199 61 736 A1, DE 39 35 474 A1, DE 37 44 240 A1 and DE 3608 550 A1 describe valves which have piezo-electric actuators foractuating the valve bodies. For example, DE 199 61 736 A1 presents avalve which has a sealing element which is held on a piezo-electricbending transducer and can be used to close off a valve passage.

DE 100 62 704 A1 describes an electro-mechanical component having atleast two actuators made from a shape memory alloy, which change shapewhen a defined temperature is reached and move as a result of thischange. One significant feature of the component described is that thetwo actuators in each case change shape at different temperatures.

Documents DE 697 09 529 T2, DE 199 63 499 A1, DE 43 22 731 A1, DE 36 35216 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,963 A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,024 A and JP61103081 A describe valves in accordance with the preamble of patentclaim 1, in which the elements in wire form, which consist of a shapememory alloy, constantly have to be moved against a further stressingelement, preferably a spring, during closing or opening of a valve. Themovement of the valve member in at least one direction, i.e. eitheropening or closing of the valve, is in this case effected with the aidof an additional spring element.

The object of the present invention is to provide a valve, in particulara ball valve, having a compact and energy-efficient actuating mechanismwhich can be used even for actuating displacements in the millimeterrange.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object is achieved by the valve in accordance with patent claim 1.Advantageous configurations of the valve form the subject matter of thesubclaims or can be taken from the following description and theexemplary embodiments.

In a known way, the present valve has a base body with a passageopening, a movable valve member for closing and opening the passageopening and an actuating mechanism which can be used to move the valvemember in order to open up the passage opening. The edge of the passageopening itself may in this case form the valve seat for the valvemember. Of course, it is also possible for a separate valve seat, onwhich the valve member is located in the closed valve state, to beformed in the region of the passage opening. In the case of the presentvalve, the actuating mechanism is composed of at least two elements inwire form made from a shape memory alloy, which are secured to the basebody or a carrier body connected to the base body and can be shortenedon alternate sides in the event of the temperature rising to atemperature above a threshold temperature. The elements in wire form areoperatively connected to the valve member in such a way that the valvemember can be moved from a stable position on the passage opening into astable position close to the passage opening in the event of shorteningof one element on one side and can be moved back into the stableposition on the passage opening in the event of shortening of the otherelement on one side. The shortening is in each case effected by pulsedheating of one element or the other. The elements in wire form may besecured either directly to the valve member or to a guide element forthe valve member. This type of guide element for the valve member may beformed, for example, by a bearing housing which partially surrounds theball of a ball valve.

The use of elements in wire form made from a shape memory alloy (SMA)makes it possible to realize an energy-efficient and compact actuatingmechanism for the valve member of the valve. Shape memory alloys havethe property of returning to their original shape after they have beenheated to a temperature above a threshold temperature. The personskilled in the art is aware of numerous metal alloys, such as forexample TiNiPd, TiNi, CuAl, CuZnAl or CuAlNi, which have theseproperties. Shape memory alloys have by far the highest mechanicalenergy density, i.e. the highest mechanical capacity of work per unitvolume. The highest energy efficiency can be achieved in particular withelements in wire form made from a shape memory alloy, also referred tobelow as SMA wires. When they are heated, for example by a flow ofelectric current, these SMA wires contract in the longitudinal directionand in the process can perform mechanical work. In the case of thepresent valve, at least two SMA wires of this type are required, sinceeach SMA wire can only act as an actuator in one direction. Themechanical energy which is provided by each of the two actuators servesprimarily to move the valve member, but must also be sufficient to causethe SMA wire which has already been shortened and acts in the oppositedirection to stretch back to the original length. On account of the highenergy efficiency of shape memory alloys in wire form of this nature,the present valve can be operated with minimal energy consumption. Afurther advantage is that the present actuating mechanism, in which justtwo SMA wires are disposed and have to be acted on with a current, forexample, in order to be heated or actuated, can be of very compact andspace-saving implementation. In particular, this actuating mechanism isable to effect movements of the valve member not only in the μm rangebut also in the mm and cm range.

In a particularly advantageous configuration, the present valve isrealized as a ball valve with binary opening characteristics. In thiscase, the valve member, which is formed as a ball, is located in thestable disposition both in the open position and in the closed positionwith the actuating mechanism unactivated, and consequently no energyneed be applied to maintain the open and closed states of the valve.This saves energy, since energy is only required to switch between theopen position and the closed position but not to maintain one of the twoend positions of the valve. In the closed valve position, the valvemember in ball form is located in a sealing manner on the passageopening, and in the open position rests laterally beside the passageopening, in a recess in the base body. The actuating mechanism displacesthe valve member between these two positions. It is preferable for thetwo stable positions of the valve member in ball form to be assisted byan elastic element, for example a coil spring, which presses the valvemember onto the passage opening or the recess as appropriate. In oneconfiguration of this ball valve with a binary opening characteristic, aball with a diameter of approx. 3 mm is used, and the actuatingmechanism has to move this ball approx. 1.5 mm between the open andclosed positions. This requires an initial force of approx. 30 mN, whichcan readily be applied by the actuating mechanism described above.

Although the present description and the following exemplary embodimentsin each case describe a ball valve, it will be clear to the personskilled in the art that the valve according to the invention can also berealized in other configurations, for example with a differently shapedvalve member or a valve flap as the valve member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is explained in more detail below on the basis ofexemplary embodiments in combination with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows four conceptual options in sub-FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D forthe positioning of the SMA wires in a valve in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 shows a more detailed exemplary embodiment of the present valve;and

FIG. 3 shows a further more detailed exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1, in the four sub-FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D, shows four differentoptions for the positioning of the SMA wires 2 of the present actuatingmechanism relative to the base body 7, as well as the valve member 3,which may be formed as a ball 6, of the present valve. The foursub-figures in this case serve only to provide illustration inprinciple, and consequently further elements of the valve, such as forexample the way in which the SMA wires are secured, are not illustrated.

All the sub-figures diagrammatically depict the base body 7 of the valvewith the passage opening 8 which is disposed therein and opens out intoa valve outlet 11. Next to the passage opening 8, a recess 9 with ablind end is formed in the base body 7, also referred to below as thevalve base. In all four illustrations, the ball 6 is above the valveopening 8 in the closed valve state and above the recess 9 in the openvalve state. In all cases, the ball 6 is held on the desired position byan elastic mechanical element, for example the coil spring 10illustrated in the figure, so that a bistable position of the ball 6 isachieved. The coil spring 10 is disposed with its axis perpendicular tothe valve base 7, in the center between the two stable ball positions,and is secured to an adjusting screw 12 of the valve. The direction ofmovement of the ball 6 for opening and closing the valve is indicated bythe double arrows. The movement is effected by the actuating mechanism,indicated by the two SMA wires 2. The length of these SMA wires 2 issuch that, even in the fully-extended state which results from the twopositions of the ball 6, they do not exceed an extension of 2%. Thethickness of the wire is in each case adapted to the force that needs tobe applied to move the ball 6. The greater this force to be applied is,the thicker the SMA wires 2 have to be made.

In the simplest configuration of the actuating mechanism, thedisplacement of the ball 6 between the two positions is realized bydirect contraction of the SMA wire in the desired direction of movementof the ball, as can be seen, by way of example, from sub-FIG. 1A. Inthis case, the two wire ends which face toward the ball 6 may besecured, for example, to a suitable ball holder (not shown) for the ball6. In this illustration, they extend on one common line whichcorresponds to the axis of movement of the ball 6. Of course, the twowire ends which are remote from the ball 6 have to be correspondinglyfixed relative to the base body 7, for example directly to this basebody. When the left-hand SMA wire 2 is heated through the application ofa current to this wire, the ball 6 is moved onto the passage opening 8,with the right-hand SMA wire 2 being extended at the same time. If theright-hand SMA wire 2 is then heated, the ball 6 moves back into theopen position onto the recess 9, with the left-hand SMA wire beingextended again this time. In this way, it is possible to achievealternating opening and closing of the valve by alternately acting onthe left-hand and right-hand wires 2. To enable the ball 6 to bedisplaced by 1.5 mm in this way, however, a wire length of in each case37.5 mm is required. In this case, to achieve a low overall size of thevalve, a diverter mechanism for the two SMA wires 2 should be used.

Shorter but thicker SMA wires 2 can be employed using a lever mechanism,as illustrated in sub-FIG. 1B. In this configuration, the ball 6 or aball holder for this ball is secured to a lever element 4, the leveraxis of which is indicated by the arrow in the figure. In this example,the two SMA wires 2 act on the lever element 4 in opposite directions. Aconfiguration of this nature makes it possible to achieve greater pathsof displacement of the ball 6 with shorter SMA wires, on account of thelever action. However, this requires the application of a greater force,and consequently the SMA wires have to be selected thicker than in theother exemplary embodiments.

A particularly advantageous configuration of the present valve isachieved with the arrangement of the SMA wires 2 in accordance withsub-FIG. 1C. In this configuration, two SMA wires 2 are used which runparallel to one another and are mounted perpendicular to the desireddirection of movement of the ball 6. If one of the two wires 2 is heatedby the flow of current, it becomes shorter, tightens and in so doingdisplaces the ball 6 perpendicular to the length of the wire andparallel to the valve base 7 onto the desired position. The displacementof the ball 6 causes the oppositely acting, unheated wire to beextended, and this latter wire, as soon as it is heated and contractsagain, can then move the ball back onto its original position. In theprocess, the wire which was active first and has now cooled down isextended again and can then in turn once again serve as an actuator. Inthis case, the two SMA wires 2 have to be disposed in such a way that inthe maximum-contracted, rectilinear state of in each case one of thewires, the ball 6 comes to be located accurately on one of the twodesired positions. For this purpose, it is necessary for the two SMAwires 2 to partially surround the ball 6, as can be seen from thefigure. Of course, both ends of each SMA wire must in each case besecured to the base body 7 or a carrier body that is suitably connectedto the base body 7. This solution allows simple mechanical securing andelectrical contact-connection of the SMA wires 2 when the latter aresecured to a rigid base, such as for example an aluminum oxide ceramic.The base may simultaneously serve as a carrier for conductor pathstructures for electrical contact-connection of the wires 2 andelectronic components. Simultaneous securing and contact-connection canthen be effected by an adhesive of good conductivity or by soldering. Byway of example, securing and contact-connection by means of spring-clampcontacts which press the wires 2 onto the rigid base is also possible.For a displacement of 1.5 mm, a wire length of only in each case 14.9 mmis required with this type of configuration of the actuating mechanism.Consequently, this configuration is distinguished by a particularlycompact overall construction.

The fourth sub-figure 1D shows a configuration in which the SMA wires 2are disposed on either side of the coil spring 10 and approximatelyparallel to the axis of the latter. They may, for example, bemechanically connected to a suitable metallic ball holder for the ball 6at the end of the coil spring 10. If the two wires 2 are heated by theflow of current, their length is shortened so that they contract thecoil spring 10 and lift the ball 6 out of the valve seat of the passageopening 8. If the passage of current through the left-hand one of thetwo wires 2 is then stopped, so that this wire cools down, while theright-hand wire 2 still continues to have current flowing through it fora short time, the coil spring 10 bends in the direction of the wirethrough which current is flowing and therefore also moves the ball 6 inthe corresponding direction. Then, the supply of current to theright-hand wire is also stopped, so that the latter cools down. As aresult, the length of the spring 10 increases and the ball 6 latchesinto the desired stable end position of the recess 9. To move the ball 6back, the operation described above is carried out again. However, inthis case the right-hand wire must first of all be cooled. The coilspring 10 then bends in the opposite direction and the ball 6, aftercooling, latches into the second position above the passage opening 8.This configuration can likewise be realized in a very compact overallconstruction. In principle, both configurations shown in sub-FIGS. 1Cand 1D allow the energy consumption for a single actuation of the valveto be limited to less than 5 mWs with a minimal space requirement. Thisapplies to a configuration of the valve with a sapphire ball 6 having adiameter of approx. 3 mm which needs to be moved by a distance ofapprox. 1.5 mm between the two stable positions.

FIG. 2 shows a more detailed illustration of an exemplary embodiment ofthe present ball valve in the form of a half cross-sectionalillustration, in which the SMA wires 2 are disposed in accordance withthe configuration of the sub-FIG. 1C of FIG. 1. In this exemplaryembodiment, the free ends of the SMA wires 2 are adhesively bondedsecurely to a carrier plate 1 made from aluminum oxide ceramic and arecontact-connected by means of CuBe clamping contacts which are led outof the valve. This illustration does not reveal the contact-connection,but rather only the CuBe contact springs 14 projecting out of the cover13 of the valve. The carrier plate 1 is secured to the base body 7 ofthe valve, with a silicone sealing sheet 15 disposed between the basebody 7 and the carrier plate 1. Of course, suitable cut-outs have to beprovided in the carrier plate 1 and the silicone sealing sheet 15 abovethe passage opening 8 to allow liquid to flow out of the base body 7, ascan be seen in the figure. A cover 13 of the valve, into which a liquidfeed passage 16 is formed for supplying the liquid to the passageopening 8, is fitted onto the carrier plate 1. Furthermore, an adjustingscrew 12 for securing the coil spring 10 and a sealing screw 17 locatedabove screw 12 are integrated into the cover 13. The coil spring 10presses the ball 6 onto the passage opening 8 or the recess 9, which isnot visible in this figure. The pressure with which the ball 6 ispressed onto the passage opening 8 or the recess 9 can be set by meansof the adjusting screw 12. The ball 6 can be moved alternately into theopen and closed positions by the application of a suitable flow ofcurrent to the SMA wires 2.

It can be seen from the FIG. 2 that the actuating mechanism, whichsubstantially comprises the SMA wires 2 secured to the carrier plate 1and their electrical contact-connection 14, takes up only minimal space.The SMA wires 2 may be in the form of ohmic resistors which can beheated to above the threshold temperature by the application of current.

FIG. 3 shows a partially assembled illustration of a further exemplaryembodiment of a valve in accordance with the present invention, in whichthe SMA wires 2 are disposed in accordance with sub-FIG. 1D of FIG. 1.These wires 2 are in this case likewise secured to a carrier plate 1made from an aluminum oxide ceramic which, however, unlike in theconfiguration shown in FIG. 2, runs perpendicular to the base plate 7 ofthe valve, in which the passage opening 8 and the adjacently locatedrecess 9 are formed. In this example, the ball 6 is guided by means of aball holder 5, on which the coil spring 10 acts and to which therespective ends of the SMA wires 2 are secured. In this example too, thepressure with which the coil spring 10 is pressed on can once again beset by means of a sealing screw 17 and adjusting screw 12. In theconfiguration shown in this figure, the ground contact-connection of thewire ends disposed on the ball side is effected via the metallic ballholder 5, the metallic biasing spring 10 and a metal insert 18 in theplastic cover 13, which can be electrically contact-connected from theoutside. This configuration also clearly requires little additionalinstallation space for the actuating mechanism.

1. Valve, comprising: a base body with a passage opening; a movablevalve member for closing and opening the passage opening; and anactuating mechanism, by means of which the valve member can be moved inorder to open up the passage opening, the actuating mechanism having atleast two elements in wire form made from a shape memory alloy, whichelements are secured to the base body or a carrier body connected to thebase body and can be shortened in the event of the temperature rising toa temperature above a threshold temperature; wherein the elements inwire form can be shortened alternately and are operatively connected tothe valve member in such a way that the valve member can be moved from astable position on the passage opening into a stable position close tothe passage opening in the event of one element being shortened on oneside, and can be moved back into the stable position on the passageopening in the event of the other element being shortened on one side;the two elements in wire form run approximately parallel to one anotherand perpendicular to a direction of movement of the valve member. 2.Valve according to claim 1, wherein the two elements in wire formcomprise ohmic resistors capable of being heated to above the thresholdtemperature by the application of a current.
 3. Valve according to claim1, wherein the two elements in wire form are secured directly to thevalve member.
 4. Valve according to claim 3, wherein the two elements inwire form comprise ohmic resistors capable of being heated to above thethreshold temperature by the application of a current.
 5. Valveaccording to claim 1, wherein the two elements in wire form are securedto a guide element for guiding the valve member.
 6. Valve according toclaim 5, wherein the two elements in wire form comprise ohmic resistorscapable of being heated to above the threshold temperature by theapplication of a current.
 7. Valve according to claim 1, wherein: thevalve member is disposed at a free end of the elements in wire form. 8.Valve according claim 7, wherein the two elements in wire form aresecured directly to the valve member.
 9. Valve according to claim 7,wherein the two elements in wire form are secured to a guide element forguiding the valve member.
 10. Valve according to claim 7, wherein thetwo elements in wire form comprise ohmic resistors capable of beingheated to above the threshold temperature by the application of acurrent.
 11. Valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve member is aball.
 12. Valve according to claim 11, wherein a recess is formed in thebase body next to the passage opening, which recess serves as seat forthe ball in the open state of the valve.
 13. Valve according to claim12, wherein the ball is connected to a coil spring, by means of whichthe ball is respectively pressed onto the passage opening or the recessin the base body.
 14. Valve according to claim 13, wherein the twoelements in wire form are disposed on either side of the coil springapproximately parallel to an axis of the coil spring.
 15. Valve,comprising: a base body with a passage opening and a recess next to thepassage opening; a movable valve member in the form of a ball forclosing and opening the passage opening; an actuating mechanism, bymeans of which the valve member can be moved in order to open up thepassage opening, the actuating mechanism having at least two elements inwire form made from a shape memory alloy, which elements are secured tothe base body or a carrier body connected to the base body and can beshortened in the event of the temperature rising to a temperature abovea threshold temperature; a coil spring connected to the ball, by meansof which the ball is respectively pressed onto the passage opening orthe recess in the base body, which recess serves as seat for the ball inan open state of the valve; and wherein the elements in wire form can beshortened alternately and are operatively connected to the valve memberin such a way that the valve member can be moved from a stable positionon the passage opening into a stable position close to the passageopening in the event of one element being shortened on one side, and canbe moved back into the stable position on the passage opening in theevent of the other element being shortened on one side; and the twoelements in wire form are disposed on either side of the coil springapproximately parallel to an axis of the coil spring.